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Players' reaction to news of U.S. Open roof: Awesome

By Douglas Robson, USA TODAY Sports
7:16 p.m. EDT August 14, 2013

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki returns against Austria's Tamira Paszek during their women's singles match against on the fourth day of the AEGON International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England.(Photo: Glyn Kirk, AFP/Getty Images)

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The U.S. Open issued a release Wednesday saying it would build a roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium

Players, naturally, were happy to hear it

"There's been plenty of rain delays before so to have the roof on will be amazing"

MASON, Ohio — Reaction at the Western & Southern Open that the USTA would announce plans to build a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of its $500 million expansion plan were nothing short of giddy.

"Awesome, awesome, awesome, times 10!" said former No. 1 doubles specialist Liezel Huber of the USA.

"That's great," said another former top-ranked player, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. "There's been plenty of rain delays before so to have the roof on will be amazing."

The weather in recent years has wreaked havoc with the U.S. Open's schedule.

Due to rain, the men's final at the 22,500-seat Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows has been pushed to Monday the past five years.

Players have grumbled loudly about the altered schedule and long delays.

The Australian Open and Wimbledon already have domed stadiums, and the French Open has plans to build one by 2018. The one in Queens could be completed as early as 2016, according to reports.

During delays at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the players' lounge often resembles a bus depot strewn with bags, rackets, and bodies as pros pass time.

"You do feel like sometimes it is kind of part of the Slams a little bit," said defending U.S. Open champion Andy Murray of the stoppages after beating Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3 in the second round here Wednesday.

"I don't particularly like going from indoors to outdoors," he added. "It's also tough. But it's good for TV. It's good for fans that are watching. For the players scheduled on that court, it's great."

Others wondered about the noise level in the 22,500 seat stadium, the largest permanent tennis facility in tennis.

"It'll be almost like a football stadium," said the No. 2 American Sam Querrey.

James Blake, 33, welcomed the news.

"They've talked about it at all the other Slams and Wimbledon came around," he said. "It's good news the U.S. Open will be next."

Blake, a two-time U.S. Open quarterfinalist and avid poker player, saw a silver lining in the long weather waits.

"I do wish it was earlier in my career, but I can't complain too much," he said. "Maybe it helped me play cards a little better and get to know some of the players a little better when you're sitting around waiting in rain delays."